THE findings of a report into the original police investigation of the death of a former student from Ledbury, Herefordshire, who died from a heroin injection will be revealed.

Shop assistant Rachel Whitear, a 21-year-old Bath Spa University dropout, was found dead, crouched on the floor of her bedsit in Pound Street, Exmouth, Devon, syringe in hand in May 2000.

The results of the Wiltshire force investigation into the Devon and Cornwall force probe will be revealed at a news conference in Exeter, Devon, arranged by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A jury at a second inquest into her death in Exeter last September concluded she died from heroin intoxication - but did not know whether she injected herself or was alone when she died.

Images of Ms Whitear's death scene formed part of an anti-drugs video shown to schools.

After the second inquest, Ms Whitear's parents Pauline and Mick Holcroft, from Ledbury, criticised police, the coroner and the pathologist involved in the first investigation.

They will be at the news conference, together with Wiltshire Police senior investigating officer Chief Supt Paul Howlett and IPCC Commissioner Ian Bynoe.

Mrs Holcroft claimed the Devon and Cornwall force made the "massive assumption" of treating Ms Whitear's death "very simply as an inconsequential drugs-related statistic - with an overwhelming emphasis on there being no suspicious circumstances".

After Mrs Holcroft complained to Devon and Cornwall Police about their investigation, Wiltshire Police were appointed to reinvestigate the death.